North Lanarkshire Council officially handed over the garden to Hillrigg Allotment Association at an event on 1 February.

The association will run the site for the benefit of the community, with individual plots available alongside a communal greenspace, orchard and wildflower areas.

Councillor Allan Graham, convener of the Enterprise and Growth committee, said: “This site was part of the mining works in this area and has been empty since 1988, so it is wonderful to see it given a new life for everyone in Wattston to enjoy,”

“With money from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund, we worked with the local community to develop plans for the garden and allotment. I am delighted to officially hand over the site to the Hillrigg Allotment Association and I wish them every success with the project.”

A consultation was carried out in November 2019 to allow local people to decide on the best option for the community growing space. Work then started on site in March 2021.

Margaret O’Byrne Linden from the Allotment Association Committee, added: “We would like to say a big thank you to Sam and the council and the team at Caley Construction Ltd for all their hard work restoring this derelict site. A big thank you also to Kin Wa Li of The Community Partnership for all his help and support over the last, almost, three years bringing this project to fruition. We would not have managed without him.

“Thank you too to Provost Jones, Councillor Graham and Councillor Beveridge for coming out on a very cold windy morning to see the result of all this hard work. It was much appreciated. Now all plotholders are excited to get on with the work of growing and enjoying their own produce in a sustainable way.”

The council has created two other allotments at Viewpark and Mossend with investment from the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.